Lubricating device for air-compressors



UNITE!) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cnvnn NEIDHAMMER, or LEMOYNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

nonnzonrnve nnvron FOR AIn-coMrnEssons Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed. March 21, 1919. Serial No. 283,983.

hereby declare the followin to be a full,

clear, and exact description or the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lubricating devices for air compressors for locomotives and the like and the primary object of the invention is to automatically supplyca limited quantity of lubricating oil to the air cylinder on each stroke thereof, so as to effectively oil the piston rings to facilitate the reciprocation'of the piston in the cylinder.

Another object of theinvention is to provide an improved means for operating a valve by a piston rod of a pump operated by the air compressor for allowing a limited amount of oil to escape into the cylinder of the air compressor for lubricating the piston thereof at a predetermined time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device for air compressors and'the like, in which the valve controlling the flow of oil and the passageways to the air compressor and lubricator is so arranged, that a limited quantity of oil is delivered to the air cylinder at the down stroke of the piston.

.h still further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the above character, which is durable and enicient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one that can he placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects'in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part there-- of, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved lubricator showing the same connected to an air compressor, and Y Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lubricator.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate'corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 generally indicates'the I improved lubrlcator attached to a lVesting house orany preferred type of air compressor 2. The air compressor 2 includes the steam and air cylinders 3 and 4 having pistons (not shown) therein, which are connected by'a piston rod. The steam cylinder is provided with the usual'intake and exhaust ports Sand 9' and the air cylinder 4 is=provided with the usual air intake port 10 and the air receiving c'oI1- trolling valves 11 and the air discharge valves 12. The upper end of the cylinder 4 is provided with a lubricating oil inlet13 to which is connected the pipe 34: and; the

lower end of the cylinder is provided with the air outlet port'14,'which'has fitted therein a pipe 46, leading to the lubricator, which will hereinafter be more fully described.

The lubricator 1 includesa base 16 having a cylinder 15 cast integrally therewith or rigidly secured thereto. The base 16 is provided with a vertical bore or air passage 17 which is enlarged at the lower end thereof.

The upper portion of the base 16 is provided with an enlargement 18 which is formed with a circular recess 19, in which-is rotatably fitted a three-way valve 20. The valve 20 is provided with a relatively small port 21' and the diverging ports 22 and 23.

A piston 24 is mounted for reciprocatory movement in the cylinder15 and the piston rod 24' thereof extends through the upper end of the cylinder. The upper end of the piston rod 24 is provided with a yoke 25, which slidably receives the valve crank or operating handle 26, which slidably receives a pin 28, which has'the terminals thereof secured tothe yoke 25. v

The valve casing or enlargement 18 is provided with a cover plate 29, whichis secured in position by suitable screws 30. The valve 20 has an outwardly extending centrally dis,- posed shaft 31, which produce through the cover plate 29 and to which the valve crank 26 is rigidly secured for rotating the valve in the casing upon operation of the piston rod 2%. 1

The upper end of the valve casing or enlargement 18 is provided with an internally threaded stud 32 having a restricted bore 33, which communicates with the bore in the stud. An oil tank 34 having a reduced threaded extension 35 is fitted into the internally threaded stud 32, and the reduced extension 35 hasa bore 36 which communi reciprocably mounted as to admit the entrance of air into the tank,

as the oil flows therefrom. A suitable screen 41 is secured in the tank 34 adjacent tothe upper end thereof, so as to effectively filter the lubricating oil when the same is poured into the tank. A passageway 42 connects the lower end of'the cylinder 15 with the air passageway 17 and forms means for permitting air to enter into the cylinder for raising the piston. The lower end of the enlargement base 16 is provided with a reduced thread-' ed extension 43 on which is adapted to be fitted a pipe 34 which leads to the port' 13 of the air cylinder 4. Air inlet ports 44 and 45 are formed in the valve'casing and the passageways 21 and 23 are adaptedto register with the same.

7 As shown, the pipe 34 is connected to the oil inlet port 13 of the air compressor cylinder and to the threaded extension 43 and the pipe46 extends from the air outle'tport 14 totheupper end of the cylinder 15, which is provided with a nipple 47 to receive the same. T he pipe 46 is providedwith a branch pipe 48, which is fitted in the port 44.

In operation of device, when piston air is forced from the improved lubricating 6 is on its upstroke, the the cylinder 4 through the port 13, pipe 34, and the passageway 42,

which raises the piston 24 of the lubricator and the valve is turned in the casing by means of its connection to the crank 26 and the piston rod 24" so that the port 21 is in registration with the outlet port 33 of the tank which permits a limited quantity of oil to enter into the port 21 and into'thc passages 22 and 23, which are out of registration with the passageway 17 and inlet port 35. Upon the downstroke of the piston 6 of'the air compressor the air is forced through the outlet port 14, pipe 46, and into the upper end of the cylinder 15 of the-lubricator, which forces the piston 24, which turns the valve 20, so as to permit of the passageways 2.1

registering with the inlet port 44 and the passageways 22 and 23 registering with the passageways 17 and the inlet port 45 This permits of the air from the branch pipe 47 to pass through the port 45 and blow the limitedquantity of oil in the passageways '21 and22 intothe passageway 17 and into the cylinder 3, so as to effectivelylubricate the piston 6 thereof. A plug 48 is fitted in the port 45, so as .to'prevent the escape of oil therethrough and this port is only used,

when air compressors of the double-cylinder type are being lubricated and when a suitable pipe is led from this port to the air com pressor.

The passageway 21 is formed with a relatively small diameter so that only a relatively small quantity of oil will enter into resorted to, when required without sacri icing any of the advantages oi? my invention as set forth. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A lubricating device for an air compressor. comprising the combination with an air compressor cylinder, an oil reservoir, a cylinder and a piston within said cylinder, of a threeway valve positioned between said air compressor cylinder and said oil reservoir and adapted to be operated automatically by pressure in the second mentioned cylinder and said piston to vary the differentports of the'valve into registerv for filling and expelling the oil.

2. A lubricating device for an oil compressor comprising the combination with the outlet ports of an air compressor cylins der, and a base having a cylinder and a valve chamber formed therein and passagesextending through said valve chamber and opening upon the upper and lower end of said base, a pipe extended from one of the outlet ports of the compressor cylinder to the lower end of said base communicating with the downwardly directed passage thereof, and an oil reservoir mounted on the upper face of said base and communicating with the upper directed passage thereof leading from the valve chamber, of a threeway valve positioned in said valve chamber, an operating handle for said. valve, an air conducting pipe leading from the outlet ports in the bottom of the compressor cylinder to the bottom of said valve chamber at a point between the upper end of said cylinder of the lubricator and the oil reservoir, a flange from the last mentioned pipe leading to the upper edge of the cylinder of said lubricator and means to turn the valve within the valve chamberto, bring one passage thereof into communication with the reservoir when the piston is forced upwardly to bring the passage into communication with said pipe leading to said valve chamber and another passage of the valve of the first mentioned Iso passage into communication with the downwardly extended passage of the plate When the piston is forced downwardly into the cylinder.

3. A lubricating device for an air coinpressor comprising the combination with an air cylinder having outlet ports, a base having offset portions, a cylinder formed in one oti set portion, a piston movable Within said" cylinder, and a piston rod extended from said piston and Working through the end of the last mentioned cylinder, of a threeway rotary valve mounted in the remaining offset portion of the base, an extension carried by said base, an air conducting pipe leading from one of said extensions to one of the outlet ports in the compressor cylinder, an air conducting pipe leading from the remaining outlet port of said compressor cylinder to an inlet port for the valve, a branch from the last mentioned pipe having communication With the upper end of the cylinder of the lubricator, an oil reservoir mounted in one ofiset portion of said base and having a discharge lower end, and connections between said threeway valve and said piston rod whereby the three radial passages of said valve are brought to proper registration with the passages through the base and with the second mentioned air conducting pipe and the oil reservoir upon reciprocation of the piston Within the cylinder of the lubricator, said base havin g a passage connecting the bottom of the cylinder of the lubricator With the first mentioned air conducting pipe, said oil reservoir having a filling opening, and a plug for said opening with an air inlet passage therethrough.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence or two Witnesses.

CLYDE NEIDHAMMER. Witnesses:

DAVID A. Gnrssmenn, S. H. Boivnns. 

